Moving into a new home generates feelings of both excitement and stress. The transitional period before you’ve really settled into your new space represents a great opportunity to handle some often-overlooked tasks and avoid unnecessary delays or pitfalls. In this blog, we’ll cover five proactive steps that can ensure your new home is ready for you and your family.

General Safety and Emergency

New homeowners should identify the location of the main water valve and electrical panel in case of an emergency. Test the valves for leaks and the breakers for functionality. This is a good time to label your breakers for ease of use later on.

Next, locate smoke and carbon dioxide detectors. Test any existing devices and consider using them if they appear in working order. If existing devices are hardwired, have an electrician inspect the condition of the wiring. For battery-operated devices, install fresh batteries.

Be sure to conform to the requirements of your locality. For example, the Vancouver Building By-law requires that every dwelling be equipped with an operable smoke detection device; the majority of other localities today have similar provisions.

New homeowners should also rekey or change the locks on all entry doors before or shortly after moving in.

Preparing the New Space for Children and/or Pets

Those with children and/or pets must take appropriate precautionary measures in their new home. Review essential safety considerations when moving with children below.

• Certain packing supplies, like scissors or box cutters, are possible safety risks.
• Promptly secure breakables, cleaning supplies, or other hazards to prevent accidents.
• Ensure that all electrical outlets are properly covered.
• Install child locks, gates, and door knob covers to control access to cabinets, off-limits rooms and staircases.
• Anchor taller pieces of furniture to prevent them from tipping over.
• Use protective corner or edge bumpers for tables, mantles, and other objects with sharp corners.

Did the prior owner have pets? If so, ensure the carpets and any remaining furnishings are cleaned with an enzymatic cleaner. In many cases, your pet will “mark” or “spot” any areas where they smell the animals of the former occupant.

If you have dogs, inspect the yard area for any hazards or vulnerabilities. For example, look for any openings in fences that are large enough for your dog to pass through. Look for any ground holes that might house voles or ground squirrels, which often carry diseases or harmful parasites, or in-ground nests filled with wasps or other stinging insects.

Changing Your Mailing Address and Setting Up Utilities

Even if you primarily pay all your bills online, formally changing your mailing address is important. For example, the Medical Service Plan in British Columbia requires reporting address changes to the Health Insurance BC, and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBS) requires driver’s licenses to be updated within 10 days of an address change.

Next, establish new utility accounts as needed at your new home. These might include electricity, natural gas, water, garbage, etc. For energy utilities, agencies such as the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) generally oversee electricity and gas services and set the rates, which are primarily delivered by either BC Hydro or FortisBC. However, five BC municipalities have their own utility programs: Nelson, New Westminster, Grand Forks, Penticton, and Summerland.

All drinking water is broadly regulated by Health Canada, while most wastewater is treated by systems operating at the municipal level. You will need to confirm your water utility options with your new locality, as more than 120 privately owned water utilities exist throughout the province.

Homeowners in most areas have multiple options for residential internet and television services. Shopping around before you move into your new home is helpful when navigating the array of options, such as cable, satellite, and streaming services.

Perform a Deep Cleaning

Before unpacking your belongings, perform a deep cleaning of the entire space—or hire some pros to do so. A good rule of thumb is to clean from “high to low.” For example, in each room, begin by cleaning ceilings, overhead lights, ceiling fans, and wall-mounted shelves to make sure any dust lands on the floor to be cleaned later.

Clean and sanitize the refrigerator and freezer right away so that you can immediately put away any perishable foods. Do the same for other kitchen appliances, such as the oven, stovetop, dishwasher, and microwave. Bathrooms also require top-to-bottom cleaning and sanitizing.

Don’t underestimate the benefits of a powerful vacuum with attachments for hard-to-reach areas. Some of the most commonly overlooked surfaces include the tops of doors and window frames. All floors should be swept and mopped. Remember to use an appropriate cleaning agent for each surface (wood, tile, linoleum, stone, concrete, etc.). Any existing carpeting should be steam cleaned.

Similar to cleaning in advance, many people find that painting the interior before you move is much more efficient than doing it afterward.

Meet Your Neighbors and Explore Your Community

Be friendly with any soon-to-be neighbors you see when visiting your future home or during the moving process. Take the time to introduce yourself when possible. While making these initial contacts is a basic courtesy, it can have other benefits as well. Meeting your neighbors is a great way to get comfortable in your new surroundings and establish a resource for any questions you might have about the area.

Look for opportunities to explore what your new community has to offer. Search for any local areas that interest you, such as parks, gyms, shops, restaurants, or places of worship. You might even make some new friends!

As with most significant life changes, the process of moving into your new home will generally be easier and less stressful when you’re organized and well-prepared. These tips cover some of the basics to help you get started on the right foot. Once you’ve made your new space clean and safe for yourself and your family, you can move on to the fun stuff like picking out new furniture, brainstorming garden or landscaping ideas, and setting up your home office or theater. Whether moving to a new neighborhood, city, or province, you’ll be glad to have done a little work beforehand.

5 Things You Should Do Before Moving Into A New Home by Brooke Schlesinger | NAVL